Sun presidential endorsements 1884-2012 [Pictures]

In what appears to be The Sun's first formal presidential endorsement, the paper backed Grover Cleveland in 1884. He was a conservative Democrat in a pragmatic mold that the paper's owners, the Abell family, appreciated. The Abells and the president eventually became close friends.

In what appears to be The Sun's first formal presidential endorsement, the paper backed Grover Cleveland in 1884. He was a conservative Democrat in a pragmatic mold that the paper's owners, the Abell family, appreciated. The Abells and the president eventually became close friends. (Baltimore Sun)

The Sun stuck with President Cleveland in 1888, but he lost to Benjamin Harrison (pictured). Cleveland won the popular vote and carried all of the states in the South, but Harrison, running on a protectionist platform that appealed to industrial states, carried the Northeast, Midwest and West.

The Sun stuck with President Cleveland in 1888, but he lost to Benjamin Harrison (pictured). Cleveland won the popular vote and carried all of the states in the South, but Harrison, running on a protectionist platform that appealed to industrial states, carried the Northeast, Midwest and West. (UNKNOWN, Baltimore Sun)

The Sun endorsed Cleveland again in 1892, and he returned to the White House, defeating Harrison in a rematch. Populist James B. Weaver of Iowa also carried several states. Cleveland again won Maryland.

The Sun endorsed Cleveland again in 1892, and he returned to the White House, defeating Harrison in a rematch. Populist James B. Weaver of Iowa also carried several states. Cleveland again won Maryland. (Baltimore Sun)

The Sun broke with the Democrats for the first time in 1896 to endorse William McKinley, and Maryland went with it. McKinley favored protectionist policies that benefited industrial states, and in a contrast to previous elections, Maryland sided with them instead of the agrarian South. The Sun...

The Sun broke with the Democrats for the first time in 1896 to endorse William McKinley, and Maryland went with it. McKinley favored protectionist policies that benefited industrial states, and in a contrast to previous elections, Maryland sided with them instead of the agrarian South. The Sun... (UNKNOWN, Baltimore Sun)

Four years after endorsing a Republican for the first time, The Sun was back to its traditional support for Democrats in 1900 with its endorsement of William Jennigns Bryan (a man H.L. Mencken would later excoriate). Maryland went for McKinley. In light of what the paper saw as McKinley's...

Four years after endorsing a Republican for the first time, The Sun was back to its traditional support for Democrats in 1900 with its endorsement of William Jennigns Bryan (a man H.L. Mencken would later excoriate). Maryland went for McKinley. In light of what the paper saw as McKinley's... (File photo)